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If You Play Alto Sax, what good does it do for you?

I've been playing alto sax for almost 3 years now. And all I got was dissapointment and anger. Can someone please tell me, does anything good happen to you if you keep playing alto sax?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am a teacher (34 years now) and a woodwind competition judge. Do you take lessons in school, or privately? Private lesson ( yes, they cost $$) will help you improve MUCH faster, and be far more interesting. Are you in your school band? Do you try out for the cool things like Honors groups, All-County, etc? Do you go to Solo Competition in your state? Do you play with other people for FUN - in a small group, etc.? DO you play along with all the really cool pre-recoded things - either CDs, or computer-based programs? TONS of them are out there, and they are a FUN way to learn.

If you do NOT work at your instrument, and do not take advantage of things that make it more interesting, then NO WONDER you are bored? I play professionally as well, and even at MY level, if I do not have a performance goal, it is harder to make myself practice - because I have all the other adult things in my life, like teaching, conducting, etc. that pay the bills! You cannot wait for things to come to YOU - go out and MAKE THEM happen for yourself. If you were all fat and flabby and bored, would you just sit on the couch and complain about it - or would you get up and WORK OUT???

If you stick with the sax, and make the moves I have suggested, you will find an exciting world of possibilities out there. If you find it *all too much effort* - then go back to being a lump in front of the X-box. No effort - no prize. And no sympathy from ME, because I know what *I* still have to do every day, and what my successful students do - and what happens to my whiny slacker students - some of which have a lot of natural TALENT, just no natural DRIVE.

If there are issues OUTSIDE of you that are making you miserable - an unfair band director, no support from family and friends - then that also has got to be fixed. But if it is in YOUR power to improve - then DO IT!